Storage container for uniform sized articles



J. T. PARKER 3,018,149

STORAGE CONTAINER FOR UNIFORM SIZED ARTICLES Jan. 23, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 28. 1957 FIG. 2

INVENTOR. JOHN 7.' PARKER Z O. AGfNT 2/ 4 FIG. 9

J. T. PARKER 3,018,149

STORAGE CONTAINER FOR UNIFORM SIZED ARTICLES Jan. 23, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 28, 1957 FIG. 8

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INVENTOR. JOHN T. PARKER FIG. [3

Jan. 23, 1962 J- T. PARKER 3,018,149

STORAGE CONTAINER FOR UNIFORM SIZED ARTICLES Filed Feb. 28, 1957 '3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Fla 34 32 JOHN 7. PARKER 2 A. ,yMQ.

AGENT United States Patent 3,018,149 STORAGE CONTAINER FOR UNIFORM SIZED ARTICLES John T. Parker, 1341 Degge Circle, Garland, Tex. Filed Feb. 28, 1957, Ser. No. 643,035 a Claims. (or. are-4s This invention pertains generally to storage devices for canned articles and more particularly to an attractive elficient device of this type for home or commercial storage of canned food products.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a storage container for uniform sized storage items having an external indicator which will automatically display the quantity of items inside the container from zero to the maximum capacity.

Another object is to provide a simple fool-proof indicator which will give a positive indication of the quantity of cans in the container of this invention and yet which will require a minimum of maintenance.

A still further object is to provide a means by which a series of the single simple compact containers of this invention may be combined into a storage cabinet which will occupy a minimum of space and which space may be adjusted to fit the conditions.

An additional object is to provide a can storage container which is loaded from the front end, but which contains indicating means which may be read from both front and rear end.

And yet another object of this invention is to provide a canned goods storage container which is highly efiicient and durable in operation and which may be serviced (refilled) with a minimum of time and effort by the party using this container.

These and other objects will be apparent from an examination of the following specification and drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 represents a front end view of a single container of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational View of the unit shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a cross section taken along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIGURE 4 is detail schematic view of the front end indicating mechanism.

FIGURE 5 represents a rear view of the container of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the device shown in FIGURES 1-5 with the top partially cut away for showing the front indicating mechanism only.

FIGURE 7 is a side view partly in section similar to FIGURE 2 with the near side and rail removed and showing the rear indicating mechanism only.

FIGURE 8 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 8--8 of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a detail plan view of the front indicator pointer.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary front view of one corner o a banked ro of individual container units, showing the means for joining the units side to side.

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary side view of a group of individual container units showing the means for joining the units top to bottom.

FIGURE 12 is an oblique drawing of a twelve unit banked group assembly of the individual container units of this invention.

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary detail sectional view of a modified embodiment of the pivot and of the pointer rod of this invention.

Referring more particularly to the characters of reference, on the drawing, it will be observed in FIGS. 1 and 2 that the individual can storage container unit of this invention consists basically of a c-shaped sheet metal body 2, having front and rear end members 3 and 4 respectively, a pair of internal can rails 5 and a front indicating mechanism indicated generally at 6 and a rear indicating mechanism indicated generally at 7. When food cans or other uniform storage items are used in the correct size container unit of this invention, a perpetual inventory of the contents is shown on either the front or rear end member or both as desired. The container of FIGURE 2 is seen to contain a full load of cans indicated as #1, #2, etc. It will be obvious that the container unit may be constructed for any desired quantity and size of cans.

The main body 2 includes side walls 8, top 9, and a pair of bottom lips 10 which project inward but do not close the bottom area of the container unit. At its front end, the body 2 has a semi-circular cutout 11 by which cans or other stored items may be conveniently removed. Near the top front edge of body 2, a small permanent magnet 12 is attached to the underside of top 9 in such a manner as to attract and hold closed the hinged door the container unit by a pointer 15 which is part of the front indicating mechanism 6. Pointer 15 is made of one-piece of metal as shown in FIGURES 6 and 9 and includes a hat-section 16 having a rod hole 17 therein and a fiat tab 18 having a pivot hole 19 at one end; at the opposite end the metal is offset as at 20 in a direction opposite to the hat section 16 and then terminates in a long thin needle 21. A long rod 22 loosely fits at its free end in rod hole 17 and extends: rearward to a pivotal anchor in bracket 23. A hole 24 of bracket 23 receives the right angled end 25 of rod 22 after which the extreme end of rod 22 is flattened as at 26 to prevent accidental disassembly of the rod and bracket. Rod 22 runs substantially parallel to rail 5 when the pointer 15 is in its zero position, as when the container is empty. As cans #1, #2, and #3 are added their weight exerts a force to move the rod 22 down thru a displacement in a vertical direction, until the last can in the particular quantity is resting on the lower leg 2'7 of rail 5. The particular quantity involved in the example shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8 is three, and the last can here, be ing #3 exerts a force F on rod 22, which, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, causes rod 22 to move thru a displacement D and due pivotal arrangement of rod 22 at 25 and pointer 15 at pin 28, the needle 21 of the pointer will travel thru an are indicated at A and a quantity, such as 3 here is registered on the dial 14. The connection between the free end of rod 22 and hole 17 is loose enough to permit pivoting in a transverse plane as when rod 22 moves down, and also to permit the free end of rod 22 to move slightly in an axial direction to account for the increased radial distance from pivot 25 during vertical movement of pointer 15. It will be observed from FIGURE 4, that the displacement D due to each particular can will have a finite valve, and as its axial point of application approaches pivot 25, the angle of arc A increases until in the last container shown, in FIG. 2, will deflect pointer 15 its maximum movement and the dial will register the highest quantity of 6. A spring 29 attached to pointer 15 and to the reinforcement strip 30 of front end member 3 will cause the pointer 15 to move toward the zero quantity as cans are removed from the container. The inclination of rails 5 will cause the cans to roll forward as the first can is removed.

The door 13 is hinged at 31 to a lower rigid plate 32, and a small thumb hole 33 will facilitate opening to insert or remove cans. Plate 32 includes an elongated slot 34 thru which ofiset 20 and needle 21 of pointer 15 project to cooperate with dial 14 for indicating the internal quantity. Plate 32 includes right angle side flaps 35 which fold around the sides 8 and are riveted thereto to both strengthen the overall frame and provide the necessary clearance for multiple racking as will be explained hereafter. Both the dial '14 and label 36 may be placed on the front end member 3 by means of decals as in the present construction; however a separate plate may be provided or the figures may be imprinted into the metal of the end member.

Referring now to the rear indicating mechanism 7, it will be observed in FIGURES 2, 5, 7 and 8 that a cylinder 37 containing numbers thru 6 is journalled to a rigid axle 38 supported in and moveable with rear door 39 of rear end member 4, and that thru a follower mechanism 40, the cylinder will rotate and register the quantity thru a window 41 in rear door 39. Cylinder 37 includes a spring loaded cable drum 42 which is journalled to rotate in response to a pull from cable 43 which is anchored to it or in response to the tension of spring 44 when this tension exceeds the cable pull. Cable 43 is anchored at its other end to a follower 45 which comprises an H-frame 46 supporting four wheels or bearings 47 which are of a size to ride in the tracks provided between upper and lower legs 48 and 27 respectively of rail 5. The cross member 49 of frame 46 is the specific member to which cable 43 attaches and by this arrangement the rearward pull from the cable tension is applied centrally of follower. The front pull on follower 45 is applied by cables 50 at each inboard side of the front end of the frame 46 to insure an even forward movement. Cables 50 are moved forward and around a small direction changing pulley 51 and thence rearward to attach to tension spring 52 which is itself anchored in eyebolt 53 on the lower rigid plate 54 of end member 4.

It will be noted that the container unit of this invention can be loaded with cans for storage from either the front or rear of the unit. It is loaded from the front by simply opening front door 13 and forcing the cans against the arcuate back 55 which upstands rigidly from frame 46; by this method, follower 45 will be forced rearward until the full quota of cans is installed. To load from the rear, it is simply necessary to open rear door 39, which included cylinder 37 and pull follower 45 rearward and out of rails and then reinsert the follower after cans #l#6 have been loaded on the rails.

In the illustrations of FIGURES -12 the method and structure employed to provide multiple banks of the single container units of this invention is disclosed. In FIG. 10 and 11 it will be observed that to fasten two container units side by side it is merely necessary to attach U-clips 56 to each adjacent sidewall 8 at one or more locations on each unit. The lower lip 10 of main body 2 is cut back near the front end to accommodate this attaching means. The lower external circumference of U-c-lip 56 will abut the corners of tops 9 when the two units thus joined are placed over additional similarly joined units. The thickness of the lower side of U-clip 56 will thus provide a Vertical clearance between successive vertical units and will assure of easy front door openings as far as the vertical relationship is concerned. The side flaps 35 of the lower front plate 32 will provide the necessary side clear ance to assure of easy front door opening relative to the horizontal relationship of the multiple mounted container units is concerned. To secure the units in a vertical direction U-clips 56 are slipped over one top 9 at the rear end and over the next adjacent bottom lip 10, preferably at both sides. The rear door 39 terminates below underside of top 9 so that suflicient clearance is provided to permit the U-clips 56 to be inserted as shown in FIGURE 11; likewise the rear of rigid member 54 terminates above the base line of side members 8 for the same purpose (FIG. 2). Lip 10 includes a cut out 57 near the rear end to accommodate clip 56.

The modified embodiment of the pivot end of rod 22 is 4 shown in FIG. 13 to include a flexible spring 58 which is forced onto the end of rod 22 and onto the end of brad 59 which passes thru and engages the rear wall 54. This construction provides a very economical pivotal connection for this invention.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of this invention, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and useful and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A storage container unit comprising: a main body, a front end member, a rear end member, a pair of inclined rails within said body to support a plurality of identical storage items, and means associated with the interior of said unit and with said front end member for indicating at the front of said container unit the quantity of items within the closed container unit, said front indicating means being actuated to its indicated position by the weight of the rearmost storage item on said rails.

2. A storage container unit comprising: a main body, a front end member, a door in said front member, a rear end member, a pair of rails within said body to support a plurality of identical storage cans, said rails being inclined toward the front whereby the rear cans will roll forward due to gravity when the front most can is removed thru said front door, and means associated with the interior of said unit and with said front end member for visually indicating at the front of said container unit the quantity of cans within the closed container unit, said front indicating means including: a pointer, a rod pivoted near the rear of said unit and extending forward in lateral parallel relation to and between said rails to a connection with said pointer, said rod being inclined vertically and being substantially parallel to said rails in a vertical plane only when said container unit is empty, a dial on the front end member including numerical graduations, a spring between said movable pointer and a stationary part of said container unit whereby said pointer and rod will be returned to empty indicating position, the said rear pivot end of said rod being higher than the can support rail whereby the rearmost can placed on said rail will depress said rod thru an angle proportional to the total number of cans on said pointer on said front indicator dial.

3. An end indicating mechanism for a can storage container unit comprising: inclined rails in said unit to receive a plurality of stored cans, a long rod pivoted at one end within said unit and extending parallel to and between said rails, indicating means at the opposite end of said unit, means between said rod and indicating means for moving said indicating means to register the quantity number of the last can placed on said rails and engaging said rod.

4. A storage container unit comprising: a main body, a front end member, a rear end member, a door in said rear member, a window in said door, a pair of inclined rails within said body to support a plurality of identical stor-- age items, and means associated with the interior of said unit and with the rear end member for indicating at the rear of said container unit the quantity of stored items within the closed container unit, said rear indicating means including a numbered cylinder, said cylinder including a spring for returning to its zero position, a follower mechanism engaging the rearmost storage item, a cable from said follower mechanism to said cylinder for turning same in response to forward movement of said follower mechanism whereby numbers on said cylinder will register thru said window to indicate the quantity within the closed container unit.

5. A storage container unit comprising: a main body, a front end member, a rear end member, a door in said rear member, a window in said door, a pair of inclined rails within said body to support a plurality of identical storage items, and means associated with the interior of said unit and with the rear end member for indicating at the rear of said container unit the quantity of stored items within the closed container unit, said rear indicating means including a numbered cylinder, said cylinder including a spring for returning to its zero position, a follower mechanism engaging the rearmost storage item, a cable from said follower mechanism to said cylinder for turning same in response to forward movement of said follower mechanism whereby numbers on said cylinder will register thru said window to indicate the quantity within the closed container unit said cylinder being rotatably supported from said rear door and movable therewith when said door is opened to insert additonal storage items.

6. A storage container unit comprising: a main body, a front end member, a rear end member, a door in said rear member, a window in said door, a pair of inclined rails within said body to support a plurality of identical storage items, and means associated with the interior of said unit and with the rear end member for indicating at the rear of said container unit the quantity of stored items within the closed container unit, said rear indicating means including a numbered cylinder, said cylinder including a spring for returning to its zero position, a follower mechanism engaging the rearmost storage item, a cable from said follower mechanism to said cylinder for turning same in response to forward movement of said follower mechanism whereby numbers on said cylinder will register thru said window to indicate the quantity within the closed container unit said cylinder being rotatably supported from said rear door and movable therewith when said door is opened to insert additional storage items, said follower mechanism being removable thru said rear door to provide increased clearance for insertion of said storage items.

7. A storage container unit comprising: a main body, a front end member, a rear end member, a door in said rear member, a window in said door, a pair of inclined rails within said body to support a plurality of identical storage items, and means associated with the interior of said unit and with the rear end member for indicating at the rear of said container unit the quantity of stored items within the closed container unit, said rear indicating means including a numbered cylinder, said cylinder including a spring for returning to its zero position, a follower mechanism engaging the rearmost storage item, a cable from said follower mechanism to said cylinder for turning same in response to forward movement of said follower mechanism whereby numbers on said cylinder will register thru said window to indicate the quantity within the closed container unit, said rails having a C-shaped cross section, said follower mechanism including laterally spaced wheels riding within the C-shaped cross section whereby vertical force will not dislodge said wheels from said rails.

8. A storage container unit comprising: a main body, a front end member, a rear end member, a door in said rear member, a window in said door, a pair of inclined rails within said body to support a plurality of identical storage items, and means associated with the interior of said unit and with the rear end member for indicating at the rear of said container unit the quantity of stored items within the closed container unit, said rear indicating means including a numbered cylinder, said cylinder including a spring for returning to its zero position, a follower mechanism engaging the rearmost storage item, a cable from said follower mechanism to said cylinder for turning same in response to forward movement of said follower mechanism whereby numbers on said cylinder will register thru said window to indicate the quantity within the closed container unit, said rails having a C- shaped cross section, said follower mechanism including laterally spaced wheel sets having longitudinally spaced pairs of wheels riding within the C-shaped cross section whereby vertical force will neither dislodge said wheels from said rails or permit rotation of said follower.

9. A normally closed storage container unit, comprising: a main body, a front end member, a rear end member, said front and rear end members normally closing the front and rear ends of said main body respectively, means within said body for supporting a. plurality of similar items to be stored, and means associated with the front end of said container unit for indicating the quantity of items within the closed container, means associated with the rear end of said container unit for indicating the quantity of items within the container, said rear end means and said front end means both cooperating with the last said item to provide simultaneous identical readings at both the front and rear ends and each means depending for operation on the longitudinal position of the same item.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 986,395 King Mar. 7, 1911 1,020,475 Berg Mar. 19, 1912 1,144,928 Adair et al. June 29, 1915 1,162,203 Apfeld Nov. 30, 1915 1,211,685 De Cesare Jan. 9, 1917 1,256,091 Aginley Feb. 12, 1918 1,458,510 Ashton June 12, 1923 1,639,615 Sapp Aug. 16, 1927 1,686,515 Chandler Oct. 9, 1928 1,699,868 Anderson Jan. 22, 1929 1,951,239 Friel Mar. 13, 1934 1,981,783 De Bussey Nov. 20, 1934 2,364,765 Zalkind Dec. 12, 1944 2,482,174 Hake Sept. 20, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 320,770 Italy Sept. 5, 1934; 

